Russia blocks expansion of UN panel of experts on North Korea Four-day week: first major pilot project in Switzerland

With a veto in the UN Security Council, Russia blocked the extension of the mission of a UN panel of experts that has been investigating possible violations of international sanctions by North Korea for about fifteen years.

China abstained from voting on the relevant resolution in New York on Thursday, while all thirteen other member states of the body voted in favor. However, if a permanent member of the Council, such as Russia, votes against a resolution, it cannot be adopted. The veto means, at least for now, the end of the expert committee when its mandate expires in April, but not the end of sanctions.

The West is trying to strangle North Korea, said Russia’s UN Ambassador Vasily Nebensha, explaining his country’s no vote. The US, France, South Korea, Japan and Britain stressed their “deep disappointment” over the outcome of the vote in a joint statement after the meeting. Russia wants to end independent monitoring of sanctions compliance because it needs military support for its war of aggression against Ukraine.

North Korea has significantly expanded its missile tests in the past two years and has also stepped up its rhetoric against South Korea and the United States, which Pyongyang considers its main enemies. South Korea expanded its military cooperation with the US. (saw/sda/dpa)